Chapter 11: St Gerard's
The meeting ended and Harry and Draco accompanied Headmistress Wright to St Gerard's.
"The school was built out of Potter Castle three years in to the first war with you-know-who, many of the teachers here are people who lost family during the war most volunteer to teach here and do not receive much salary as we cannot afford to pay much. We house around 80 students but when we opened the building housed nearly 300 children, many have graduated and gone on to become quite successful. Though I fear we may reach those numbers again." The Headmistress explained as she gave them a tour around the building.
"It seems so well cared for." Draco noted, he had been listening when the headmistress had noted the Defence Against the Dark room was not faring well.
"We have practice rooms' setup so the students may practice more destructive spells and the such away from harming the student body, we believe they should be able to practice as often as they need to in a safe environment for now. The older students sometimes use an obstacle course we built in the private quidditch on the grounds. Now if I know young boys you'll be getting hungry, dinner will be starting shortly, so why don't we head to the dining room next." As if their stomachs heard the Headmistress' words, they both growled in unison.
The Dining room was vastly different than the Great Hall at Hogwarts, instead of four long tables there were smaller tables scattered throughout the room, it was obvious that some had been pulled together to make larger tables. The only thing similar was the teachers table, it stood on a raised dais but not enough that it made you feel as if you were being lorded over, only that the teachers could see the entire room.
The meals very also served in a much different style, it was set out that you order exactly what you what from a kind, if dotty, looking lady who was seated behind a window, she would then give you something neither Harry nor Draco was sure what is and you left and took a seat somewhere.
"Come on boys, no one gets feed until everyone is seated unless there is a good reason for them not to be here." The Headmistress said steering them towards the window.
"Hello Samantha, who are this two stunning teens with you?" the lady behind the counter said.
"This is Harry Potter and his friend Draco Malfoy they are here to join us for dinner. I will have the roast chicken and vegetables please Eliza." Headmistress Wright explained.
"Of course you will. What about you two boys, what'll you have?" Eliza asked as she handed the headmistress a ticket with a number on it.
"Um, can I have a chicken salad please?" Harry asked politely.
"Of course Mr Potter, and you Mr Malfoy, what will you have?" Eliza asked handing Harry a slip of paper with a number on it and turning to Draco.
"Just a salad thank you." Draco said to Eliza. She gave him a look that clearly said that she thought Draco should be eating more than that but she held her tongue, handing him a piece of paper.
"Alright boys, find somewhere to sit and Dinner should be served shortly." The Headmistress said and she left them to make her way toward the teachers table. Harry and Draco Found a table in the middle of the room that was empty except for one lone student. It was a girl around their age, she had black hair that was cut short and choppy, her clothes were obviously handmade and well worn, they were form fitting and well cared for. The girl seemed to be in very good shape, they could see the well defined but not bulging muscles of her arms and she held herself in a way that said she could probably kick both their asses. But as they made their way towards her she gave a feral grin.
"Hi I'm Draco and this is Harry. Mind if we sit with you?" Draco said when they reached the table.
"Only if you don't mind sitting with the resident psycho," She replied, both boys looked at each other hesitantly. "Don't worry I'm not a basket case out to kill, the others just like to call me that cause I have anger management problems. I'm Faith by the way"
"Oh ok." Harry said. As he sat down and waited for their meals.
"Good evening children," the Headmistress said standing up for the attention of the students. The greeting was returned by everyone in the hall. "Before we eat I have a few announcements to make, first Mr Moffat has been diagnosed with a terminal disease and we must all pray for him. second we have some guest with us tonight, so would you please all welcome Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter." The students and teachers alike all wore shocked faces but especially Faith who looked like a goldfish.
"It's good to be admired for something other than this stupid scar," Harry whispered to Draco as students were whispering at other tables about an actual Potter being here.
"That is all children, enjoy." As headmistris Wright said this all their meals appeared in the place in front of them.
"You're really Harry Potter?" Faith asked still slightly shocked.
"Scar and all, Harry said before putting a forkful of his chicken salad in his mouth.
"Holy hell, Harry fucking Potter in the place his parents opened, why didn't you end up here with the rest of us unfortunate souls?" Faith asked cutting into a steak.
"Dumbledick thought I was only safe with magic hating abusive relatives and left me on their doorstep that very night. The first eleven years of my life I lived in the cupboard under the stairs and since then sometimes I wish I'd never gotten my letter. I don't know what would've been better Life with them or life at school where the bloody tabloids keep the public changing their opinions on me as easily as the wind changes...Sorry." Harry said ashamed he had ranted like that.
"Nah, it's ok Harry, I don't like the prick either." Draco said
"What I've heard of him he sounds like a manipulative bastard who uses the people who trust him as pawns to further his own godforsaken ambitions." Faith growled out angrily.
"I take it you're not a fan of him, is there a reason for that?" Draco asked barely touching his salad.
"Because he keeps showing up here and keeps trying to shut us down. Doesn't like that we are here learning and not at Hogwarts being brainwashed by his stupid ideals and views of the world and what is light and dark magic. Really magic isn't light or dark only purpose is. Is a killing curse really all that dark if it his helping end a persons suffering?" Faith asked in a philosophical voice.
"You have a point, but can you really justify something like the Cruciatus or Imperius curses?" Harry asked "and Draco eat something would you."
"Some people have enough will power to fight Verituserum or memories can be blocked but it takes a lot more will power to fight Verituserum or it takes a lot more power to totally erase a memory. The Imperius curse can break through that sort of thing. As for the Cruciatus curse there are many people out there who deserve it, people like Bellatrix Lestrange who have caused so much pain deserve to have it paid back to them, the dementors kiss steals a person's mind, soul and their ability to feel pain so what punishment is it they are not aware, of anything, so how can that be a fit punishment for what they have done? The intentions are what make curses dark."
"That is...a very round-about way of looking at it but I understand where you're coming from. I know someone who would use the Cruciatus curse on Bella very easily cause she tortured his parents to insanity with it, I myself have tried after she took away the man who was like a father to me just last month."
"Faith you got long before your classes start up again?" Draco asked he had still barely touched his food.
"Start up the same time as Hogwarts classes," Faith replied.
"What year level are you?" Harry asked.
"Sixth year, what about you guys?" Faith inquired.
"Same, what classes are thinking of taking?" Harry asked looking at both Faith and Draco.
"Well I'm defiantly keeping with DADA, Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, Astronomy, Herbology and Ancient Runes." Harry replied. "Draco?"
"The same, except I'm not doing Ancient Runes I'm taking Muggle Studies instead." Draco answered. "What about you Faith? What classes are you taking?"
"I'm taking; Darks Arts and Their Defence, Herbology, Ancient Runes, Divination care of Magical Creatures and I'm still trying to choose between astronomy and potions."
The rest of the evening progessed much in this fashion though at times they were interrupted by students and teachers wanting to meet Harry and also compare schools. At 2130 hours they decided to head back to the Leaky Cauldron as they had much to do before their letters from Hogwarts came.
A/N 1: Dirty scene is in the next chapter, please be warned.